Tag: Nature Photography

The Great Smoky Mountains contain sweeping panoramic views of ancient mountains, rushing streams, cascading waterfalls, and old growth hardwood forests. These are each wonderful sites to behold and represent just a hint of the photographic opportunities that await. Come join us as we explore this unique ecosystem with cameras in hand. I will be right there beside you to provide photographic recommendations and instruction.

Monday night, October 21st, we will all meet at the Trailhead Steakhouse restaurant in Townsend, TN for an orientation and to go over the itinerary for the following three days as well as get a sense of what each of you is looking for out of the workshop. The October 21st welcome dinner is on me.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be filled, sunrise to sunset, with photographic opportunities as we explore the Foothills Parkway, Cades Cove, Greenbrier, Clingman’s Dome and more. Each day there will be an opportunity to look at what you have captured and receive post processing instruction. Finally, after photographing sunrise in the Foothills Parkway we will meet for a recap and a final breakfast as everyone leaves on their own. This meal will be on me as well.

Workshop Includes:

Photographic instruction

Dinner at the Trailhead Steakhouse restaurant the first night and breakfast on the final day.

What’s not included:

Transportation: Transportation to and from the airport and during the workshop is not provided. Please keep this in mind when making travel arrangements.

Lodging: The group will be staying at the Townsend Gateway Inn in Townsend, TN. There will be a block of rooms set aside for the Nature Photography Show.

Food: Other than the initial dinner and the final breakfast food is not included.

While most tours offer only one-week at sea, this tour offers a full two weeks. Suzi has teamed up with legendary Galapagos photographer and expert, Tui De Roy to offer a unique experience that will put us on shore with wildlife at first and last light, when most other tour groups are noticeably absent.

We have chosen the coolest time of year in Galapagos, when the seas are most productive and many species are nurturing cute babies.

Includes: All accommodation, breakfasts, welcome drink, farewell dinner, tuition, entrance fees for scheduled tour activities, ferry fees and all transport during the tour. Comfortable and spacious transportation to hold all the photography luggage. Excludes: Flights, travel cost to and from hotel (arrangements can be made), trip and medical insurance, lunches, evening meals, alcoholic drinks, tips to guides, and personal items. * Tour price is based on double occupancy. Single suplement is $650.
– Get close and personal with the Puffins. Over 2000 Puffins nest on the Island we will be visiting.
– Capture the spirit and mood of some of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland.
– Experience the thrill of the wild and striking vistas of the Highlands and the Isle of Skye.
– Capture on camera some of Scotland’s wondrous wildlife including the Atlantic Puffin, White-Tailed Sea Eagle with a wingspan of up to eight feet, and the Red Kites.
– Visit to a well established Falconry in Central Scotland where you will be able to fly some of the raptors, possibly even a Bald Eagle.
– Wonder around the Cairngorms National Park, photographing the Red Squirrel and all the little birds.
– Soak up the history of this amazing land at the iconic Eilean Donan castle.
– Feel the security of experienced photography leaders on hand to help you capture that moment and learn new and creative techniques to add impact to your images and get help with your post-processing.
– Enjoy homely accommodations and fine Scottish hospitality, all close to our primary locations and savour good Scottish cuisine.
A wonderfully warm Scottish welcome, some whisky tasting, castles and much more awaits you.

To request the day-by-day itinerary please email us at info@ksnaturephotography.com.

Event Leaders:
Krisztina Scheeff
KS Nature Photography

Based in San Diego, California, Professional photographer Krisztina operates a successful business providing guided tours and workshops around San Diego & Orange County. Krisztina had numerous publications and art exhibits, and she is a workshop leader every year at the Bird Festival run by San Diego Audubon Society. Her enthusiasm and passion for wildlife photography rubs off on everyone who meets her.

Spending part of her year in Scotland photographing the wildlife and its majestic scenery is something she will ensure you also get to experience.

David Hekel
aka Ranger Dave

David has been the Senior Park Ranger for the San Dieguito River Park for 18 years and has worked around Lake Hodges for close to 25. He is a great photographer/ tour guide and brings a vast amount of knowledge about both the birds and animals that reside and season around the lake as well as the many native plants that make up the parks ecosystem.

His job has also made him a superb spotter and he is very aware of what’s in or around us on the tour. If it’s in the area he will more than likely find it for you!

David joined our growing team in 2018 and is the co-leader for all KS Nature Photography Scotland Tours. He was born in Scotland and spent many years there before moving to California. He knows this beautiful land and her history very well!

Chincoteague NWR is located on the southern Virginia end of the barrier island of Assateague. In the fall, the refuge attracts large numbers of snow geese along with ducks, swans, herons, ospreys, shorebirds and other migrants. It is also the home to wild horses, deer, raccoon, fox squirrels, and other animals. Used to being protected, the wildlife is unusually tolerant of humans and presents visitors with great photo opportunities. The ocean, dunes, shells, workboats, harbor, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets offer workshop participants a variety of subjects with which to work. The workshop includes tips on locating and approaching wildlife, capturing in-flight shots of birds, equipment selection, composition, lighting, and exposure. We will explore both the refuge, seashore, and the community.

This Chincoteague Photo Workshop is designed for those with a basic knowledge of the operation of a 35 mm SLR digital camera with an interest in nature. Workshop emphasis is on improving photographic skills and optimize the use of your camera. Class includes an orientation PowerPoint program followed by photography sessions on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island, and in the town of Chincoteague. Included is a critique/review of images from the weekend. Topics covered: 1) equipment selection and operation, 2) composition, creativity and perspective, 3) metering and exposure, 4) lighting, 5) basic image manipulation and 6) locating, approaching and photographing wildlife.

Based on my findings from scouting the area prior to the workshop, the following will be discussed at the orientation meeting on Friday evening: departure time, current field conditions, potential subjects, equipment needed, safety, field ethics, and other logistical details. Prior to dawn on Saturday, we will depart for the wildlife refuge to photograph sunrise and take advantage of the soft, warm early morning light. Because wildlife is protected on the refuge, animals are abundant and unusually tolerant of humans to the pleasure of most photographers. Situated on the Atlantic Flyway, Chincoteague is a resting and refueling spot for migrating birds. Potential photo subjects include sand dunes, shells, ocean wave, fishing boats, fisherman, the lighthouse, local architecture, and wildlife including sika elk and whitetail deer, fox, otters, raccoons, ponies, herons, rails, swans, geese, ducks, shorebirds and other resident and migratory species.

The orientation and discussion sessions for the Chincoteague Photo Workshop December 2018 will be held at the Best Western Motel in Chincoteague on Maddox Blvd.

“Raw New Mexico” takes you deep into the south where excellent photographic opportunities abound. White Sands NM, Bosque del Apache NWR, Fort Stanton and Lincoln County are all on the schedule.. History, mystery, panoramas and wildlife await the curious artist. Wide-open spaces invite travelers to wander.

This photo workshop lets you sample the many facets New Mexico has to offer. Bring your camera and curiosity to where cowboys still ride and nature surrounds you. Your journey awaits!

On the One-Day Workshop, we will begin with classroom style instruction going over the tricks and techniques you will need to capture the incredible beauty of the lake as well as all of the birds and wildlife so abundant in this area. After the classroom presentation, we will take a pontoon out on the lake for a full day of one-on-one instruction while capturing amazing images around every corner.

The Two-Day Workshop includes all of Day-One’s activities, followed by a sunset and night sky shoot, as well as a sunrise shoot the following morning for anyone interested. Then we will have another whole day of shooting in another area of Lake Sinclair.

The Three-Day Workshop will include the first two day’s activities, plus another evening of sunset and night sky shooting followed by a day of post processing with one-on-one editing help using Adobe Photoshop to really make the images pop. As a bonus, for those who are interested, we will also have a show and tell contest at the end with the winning images having the option of being featured in our next newsletter, on social media and on our website. There will also be prizes awarded.

For more information and to sign up for the workshop, please see my main website at the link below. I am also available to answer any questions you might have.

Gura Gear Kiboko camera bag on luggage wheels is relatively inconspicuous and looks a lot like an ordinary roller bag.

Travel Neat

Story and photo by Kathy Adams Clark

I’ve learned over the years that airline employees seem to ignore “neat” travelers. The employees at the check-in counter and gate tend to look right past a passenger with a small backpack and legal-size roller bag. It seems like every business traveler has them. For females, sometimes it’s that stylish tote and roller bag. My camera gear now mimics that business look so I don’t standout during check-in or at the gate.

Art Wolfe is reputed to have said you can celebrate something to death. In a similar vein, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Senator Lamar Alexander penned a May 2018 editorial for CNN in which they bluntly stated that “our parks are being loved to death” through a combination of record-breaking crowds and severe maintenance backlogs. All over the world, precious, unique natural areas are under stress from human visitors. In some places, it’s simply a case of too many people coming to too small a space. In others, it’s not just the crowds, it’s also bad behavior.

In order to protect beautiful but fragile areas, many photographers have stopped sharing location information. No GPS data. No clues about where the spot is or how to get there. Why? Because, once a really cool photo location is out there on Instagram, Facebook or other platforms, the crowds inevitably follow.

Is withholding locations arrogance? Selfishness? Respect for nature? You be the judge.Continue reading →

The Pool frozen over at sunrise, Central Park, New York, NY (HDR compilation of 5 images).

Story & photography by F.M. Kearney

That time is quickly approaching. That time of year when many photographers will pack away their gear and patiently wait for the first colorful blooms next spring. Yet, winter isn’t completely devoid of color, as some might assume. In fact, if you carefully plan what you shoot and when you shoot, you may be surprised at the amount of color you can coax out of this often-overlooked season.